New Director Appointed to Cook County Health Board

Cook County Health Board of Directors Meeting - January 25, 2019

Items of Note from Reports to Board

• At the January 24, 2019 Cook County Board meeting, Commissioners approved the appointment of Michael Koetting to the Cook County Health Board of Directors. Mr. Koetting is a healthcare and strategic planning consultant as well as an adjunct member of UIC's faculty. From 2010-2015 he served as Deputy Director for Planning and Reform Implementation for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
• Managed Care: Total CountyCare members as of January 7, 2019 is 326,026 of whom 45,446 are served by Cook County Health clinics (13.9%).
• The Arlington Heights Health Center opened January 14, 2019. This new 35,000 sq ft center has 24 exam rooms, six dental suites, WIC nutritional services, mammography, behavioral health services and on-site lab. The comprehensive patient care team includes bilingual Spanish speaking staff members.
• Through January 3, 2019, Cook County Health's (CCH) Fresh Truck partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository has resulted in 152 visits to 12 CCH health centers. Collectively, theFresh Truck distributions have totaled more than 420,000 pounds of fresh produce delivered to individuals, most of whom are food insecure. Access to better nutrition can lead to better health outcomes.
• February is Heart Health Month and the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women. CCH and CountyCare sponsored several programs to increase women's heart health awareness.
• Governor Pritzker named Theresa Eagleson as new Director of the IL Dept of Healthcare and Family Services. This agency oversees the state's Medicaid Managed Care programs and child support services.
• Recently approved state rules lowered blood lead levels to 5 micrograms/deciliter. This rule change will allow children to be identified as having lead exposure when their blood lead levels are at or above 5 micrograms/deciliter. This earlier detection of lead exposure is important as it will result in more children receiving public health intervention.
  

​Post Meeting Review Report submitted by Michele Niccolai